More bees, more worms.

Al Baker(pumpman) · Feb 15, 2015

How about the hands down worst tractor built. Well how about the worst in each color(each company had their lemon). The tractor that set the company backwards in market share. I own one and like it, but I vote for the Ford 6000. Ford was selling tractors and doing pretty good at quality. Then came the red 6000. Ford dropped the number 6 until the 6600 just to make distance from that mess. Why didn't they build a kit to make them into a 8 speed? I like mine, but only use it for raking hay anymore. Was the first tractor I ever owned, so I keep it around like your first love kind of holds a specical place in your heart.

WellWorn · Feb 15, 2015

Al, I know of at least 2 (of different brands) that I've had the privilege to use, repair, but to thankfully not own. I've also heard horror stories about others. I also know that mentioning them would get me hate mail from some diehard 'color' fans, so discretion dictates I exercise my right to remain silent.

BTW, I understand your Ford claim, but can neither confirm nor deny if it was any worse than any other lemon of any other color I've had experience with.

JD Seller · Feb 15, 2015

Well in John Deere it was the JD 2010/1010 that hurt them in the utility market in the early 1960s.

Around here the D-19 and D-21 pretty much took AC out of the 100 HP market. Both had engine troubles. The D-19 was cylinder head issues. The D-21 was transmission and engine issues. I think they got the D-21s straighten out but they sure did not last long on farms around here.

Then the MF 1105 and MF 1135 stopped MF locally. They both had clutch and transmission issues on relatively well care for tractors here. Then the 2000 series finished what few MF guys where left. I know guys that ran the older MF 1100s and beat the crap out of them with few problems.

Case never caught on here. I do not even remember any Case dealers around here. I know there had to be some but I can't think of who or where they were.

john in la · Feb 15, 2015

While the SOS was Ford's biggest screw up of that era by trying to rush it to market and be the first one with the product. Once they got the bugs worked out they were good transmissions.

I dare you to find a present day new production tractor (or anything) that does not have bugs to work out and will be earning its keep (raking hay) 55 years from now.

So with that said how can you vote for the 6000 as the worse tractor ever built.

PS. You do know the filter for that trans will be available in the near future.

flying belgian · Feb 15, 2015

I owned one and liked it but I have always heard the the 560 is what knocked IHC down a notch.

Traditional Farmer · Feb 15, 2015

I've owned several D19's and I've had great service from them still have a D19 gasser.The problem with the D19 diesel head gaskets were the mechanics installing them.AC had a set of starter pins that screwed into some of the head bolt holes to align and hold the head gasket in place.If these weren't used the gaskets would often slip and not center up on the piston hole and then the gaskets would blow.Once some of the other head bolts were tightened a little the pins were screwed out and the rest of the head bolts put in.

kent@junction · Feb 15, 2015

the very early ones had rearend trouble, but were updated fairly soon but the damage was done by then, uncle had one that after rebuilt was a good runner for several years

IA Roy · Feb 15, 2015

Dad had a 400 farmall for some time. Other than the head cracking more than once, the block cracking out the side at the rear main, the Torque Amplifier quitting and the rear end going out twice, the last time with a 4 row mounted cultivator on it, it was a pretty fair tractor. He had traded in an "M" for a Massey 44 and it lasted until the oil drain plug fell out the first day. Used the 400 as a loaner and decided to buy it. Then he and the dealer treated the Massey debacle as if it had never happened. When the rear end on the 400 went out the second time, he went to town and brought home a new 1963 or 64 706 with a mounted cultivator. They drove out into the field and loaded up the 400 to never be seen again. Several years ago he mentioned that the 706's were pretty good tractors. They were gas. If I remember correct they used to figure a complete sleeve and piston overhaul around 3000 hours. I don't know how that compares to other tractors of that time frame, but today that seems like a short life.

Al Baker(pumpman) · Feb 15, 2015

Ok guys, I dont think the 6000 was the very worst, just Fords worst. Want to here something funny? I own a D-19 Also! I just love some of those tractors. I grew up in the seat of the Pumpkin I own. Was my grandpas. Would feel like a trader to sell it. All tractors were good, and bad. All depends on how you look at them. I just love to hear guys talk about experience. When you think about tractor history you will someday need a book. On this forum you can hear from guys who lived it. I think that is what makes this forum so special. No harm intended.

More bees, more worms.

Al Baker(pumpman)

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WellWorn

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JD Seller

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john in la

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flying belgian

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Traditional Farmer

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kent@junction

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IA Roy

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Al Baker(pumpman)

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